Warner Stage Company to hold auditions for Rock of Ages Nov. 9-10

TORRINGTON >> Auditions for Rock of Ages, to be staged by the Warner Stage Company in February, will be held Nov. 9-10 at 7 p.m. by appointment.

beginning Feb. 6, 2016 on the Main Stage. Callbacks are set for Nov. 12 at 7:30 p.m.

The show’s director and choreographer is Sharon A. Wilcox; music director is Dan Ringuette.

All roles are open to audition. The stage company is seeking an ensemble of 19 performers for this production (6 principal men/3 principal women/2 featured men/ featured women/3 ensemble men/3 ensemble women). Auditioners must bring sheet music with them and be prepared to sing 32 bars, but no more than one minute, of a fully memorized rock style song (80’s style preferably, but not from Rock of Ages) that showcases their vocal range and in a style that is consistent with the character you are auditioning for. This should be something that you are very comfortable with, not something you just learned the day before.

Auditioners should mark their selection with a highlighter. An accompanist will be provided. A cappella singing or recorded accompaniment will not be allowed.

Dance/movement is a key part of Rock of Ages and everyone will be required to do a movement audition which will be done in groups, and auditioners should dress accordingly. Specialist dancers will be required for several numbers – these will come out of the ensemble. Auditioners may also be asked to read from the script.

Rehearsals will be held on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings beginning Nov. 29. The initial read-through will be held on Thursday, Nov. 19 at 7 p.m. There will be one midweek rehearsal Feb. 11.

The Warner Stage Company is a regional community theatre company and does not offer compensation or housing for performers.

Auditions for Arsenal, the on-stage musicians for the production – will be held at a separate date. Because of the nature of the production, the musicians actually play a role and interact on several occasions with the actors on stage. The band will be costumed and required to attend some rehearsals before tech week. Please send an inquiry to swilcox@warnertheatre.org for full details on the audition and compensation.

Rock of Ages takes you back to the times of big bands with big egos playing big guitar solos and sporting even bigger hair. This Tony Award -nominated Broadway musical features the hits of bands including Journey, Night Ranger, REO Speedwagon, Pat Benatar, Twisted Sister, and others. Nominated for Five Tony Awards Including Best Musical.

The story: It’s the tail end of the big, bad 1980s in Hollywood, and the party has been raging hard. Aqua Net, Lycra, lace and liquor flow freely at one of the Sunset Strips last legendary venues, a place where sex machine Stacee Jaxx takes the stage and scantily clad groupies line up to turn their fantasies into reality. Amidst the madness, aspiring rock star (and resident toilet cleaner) Drew longs to take the stage as the next big thing (and longs for small-town girl Sherri, fresh off the bus from Kansas with stars in her eyes). But the rock and roll fairy-tale is about to end when German developers sweep into town with plans to turn the fabled Strip into just another capitalist strip mall. Can Drew, Sherri and the gang save the strip–and themselves–before it’s too late? Only the music of hit bands Styx, Journey, Bon Jovi, Whitesnake and more hold the answer.